Foreigners Are Mesmerized by Jeju's Charms

More than 1,300 travel professionals in Korea and abroad gather in Jeju for IDE-Asia

More than 1,300 travel agents from 41 countries, including foreign dignitaries from 15 nations got together in Jeju March 25-29 to participate ASTA's second annual International Destination Expo (IDE), jointly hosted by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and Jeju Self-Governing Province.
The success of the 2007 ASTA IDE was owed to collaboration by the government, the local government authorities, KTO and travel agencies in Jeju in a wide ranges of areas from obtaining the right to host the event to hosting and operation.
The 2007 ASTA IDE was the second one Korea hosted following the ASTA event held in Seoul in 1983. ASTA, short for the American Society of Travel Agents, is one of the world's largest travel organizations together with the Pacific-Asia Travel Association (PATA). Established in 1931 and headquartered in the state of Virginia, the United States, ASTA, has a membership of about 20,000 travel agents and the companies from 140 countries across the world. Its mission is to conduct activities like conferences,
fairs, seminars, a networking of travel agencies education/training, survey/research, and provision of tourism news.
Jeju became the first local autonomous government to host both the ASTA IDE and the PATA Annual Conference, thus serving as a good opportunity to solidify its position as one of the world's top-notch international tourism and convention destinations.
The 2007 ASTA IDE offered diverse official programs, including opening/closing ceremonies, a trade show, tourism seminars (on Jeju, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Daegu, Incheon, Korea, China), a welcoming dinner by Jeju and KTO, Lyon Farewell Gala, and pre- and post-tours.
The ASTA IDE had a trade show, designed to provide opportunities to enter the American market, form a network of global tourism leaders and promote the development and marketing of new Korean tourist products, providing Korea with an opportunity to develop the domestic tourism industry.
The Jeju Special Self-governing Province opened an integrated booth of local tourism exhibitors in a bid to help them secure a bridgehead in its entry to the American market.
The 2007 ASTA IDE provided official programs designed to show Jeju's indigenous tradition, cultural relics and wonderful natural environment to the participants of the exposition with the aim of enhancing Jeju's tourism image in Korea and publicizing Jeju as the "Island of World Peace."The tour programs were organized in a way the participants of the exposition were given bigger chances of choice and efforts to attract foreign tourists from the American and other markets can be more effective by making their tour a memorable experience with hope of them making additional visits.
Thirty-nine free or paid tour programs linking Korea and other neighbor countries were also available with the target of laying groundwork for luring delegates of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic and the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
"Jeju is an absolutely wonderful destination,
and the people of the island are very warm and welcoming," said Cheryl Hudak, CTC, ASTA president and CEO. "The KTO and Jeju Self-Governing Province have been extremely instrumental in helping make IDE-Asia an event worth remembering and a destination travel agents will surely recommend to clients. Delegates left Jeju with a thorough knowledge of what the region has to offer, which I anticipate will have a positive impact on local tourism."
In particular, in 2002, Jeju became the Unesco-designated Biosphere Reserve. Jeju has submitted an application for listing Seongsan Ilchunong, Mt. Halla National Park and lava caves into the World Heritage. Samdasu, a brand of mineral water drawn from underground rock strata, has the biggest share in the domestic market, while Jeju is striving to publicize the undersea environment, unmatched resources for diving and other activities, to American and European tourists.
Jeju's traditions and culture have drew their attention as fresh ones. Such life styles ad diving women, thatched cottages and folk cuisine as well as Tae Wang Sa Shin Ki, the soon-to-be-aired TV drama being filmed in Jeju, and other themes of Hallyu, or Korean Wave have so far become the popular coverage subject of American and European media organizations. nw

Korea Tourism Organization President Kim Jong-min speaks during the 2007 ASTA IDE held in Jeju.

Foreign visitors get a glimpse into things Korean at the Korean booth during the 2007 ASTA IDE.

The 2007 ASTA IDE offers diverse programs, including a trade show and tourism seminars.

A fantastic view from a rape flower field in Jeju.